Why Technology Is A Must For Business Success In The Modern World

Julie Starr • October 3, 2024

Business is all about attracting the right people and making as much money as possible. Of course, you will want to satisfy customers and break all kinds of boundaries, but the main goal is to turn a profit. There are lots of ways to make this happen and you are bound only by the creativity you have in your mind. You have to market your business properly and stay consistent with the likes of your brand and approach. If you do the basics properly, it gives you the platform to try all kinds of extravagant things along the way. 


In this day and age, you must ensure that you are integrating technology as much as possible. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to create a successful business without the use of digital devices and other technology. We are in the year 2024 and old-school practices probably will not suffice. You don’t have to be an expert with computers, but it’s a good idea to get to grips with everything. Technology can help you rise above your competitors and reach the success you dream of nowadays. Here are a few specific reasons as to why this is the case: 


Use Automation Whenever Possible 

Of course, using automation for absolutely everything will take away the human element and make it all inorganic. There are certain jobs that automation could do in order to be a real game-changer, however.  We are talking about repetitive tasks such as inventory management and scheduling. Using a robot in this instance will reduce human error and ensure that consistency is there. There are lots of affordable pieces of software that can help small businesses and large businesses alike. You will be able to manage your business with a lot more ease if you introduce this kind of automation.


Data Analytics For Smart Decisions 

Decisions have to be made nearly every day in the world of business, and you will need all of the right information in front of you. Harnessing data allows you to make the right kind of calls and view market trends each week. Technology in this day and age allows you to analyze pretty much every aspect of your business and the market around you. 


Adopt Industry-Specific Tech 

In this day and age, we have software and applications that are suited to pretty much every field of business. For example, people in the agricultural field can use something like a modern farming app in order to monitor conditions, track patterns, and automate irrigation. In retail, you could adopt point-of-sale software in order to make this aspect so much more convenient. There are countless other examples out there if you look hard enough.


Strengthen Cybersecurity As Much As You Can

It goes without sayinthathe businesses are targeted by criminals looking to take advantage of anyone. The most successful you become, the more vulnerable you may be. Regarding the technology you have, you must implement strong cyber security measures such as firewalls and encryption. Safeguarding your business from these kinds of attacks will protect the reputation and well-being of both yourself and your customers. 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.